[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6324110,"mediaKeyId","2339711-d1402a5453e0247ed5b2da1310a77bfb","parentId",2339711,"title","Planning commissioners approve conversion of Newport Irvine Center to medical offices with new parking structure","audioSeconds",765,"startMs",1188000,"endMs",1953000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2339711-d1402a5453e0247ed5b2da1310a77bfb&start=1188&end=1953","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2339711-d1402a5453e0247ed5b2da1310a77bfb/thumbnail_1188000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6324110/Newport-Beach-City/Orange-County/California/Planning-commissioners-approve-conversion-of-Newport-Irvine-Center-to-medical-offices-with-new-parking-structure","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6324110-7e47e0e5dad3b28184a77a36354a8500/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199063&Signature=ZH9cbhNgiXJ0UozqAk0miYsgdva0vQHA8lr0qTwOZ6~03KMVqn1efrXydVzoo2XBjQbVi7mo7~vntBE7Rqh3~r3eBYD~DwRS7VsvfIZbujlMmo0JrTT5Dj3yHFT0aZTTdCraQQiOuu5ZQLvxTrOk335VugqkeHI8kfTUSIdr4RBP6xqpovi2W~lXYBG5WWQ0NVGIjrriUZtEjGSnAR1TLshyiDDZErzcA5lEKvt0rmkAgu3ZhVthzbexi9uGSUEB09hflvFuAdMUEGteQO0NA2RjbfClezPhyuy9DIfZrn4GLS6h7rhRgi-5O0jWDvHEsw9KraMGGaCiiQDtGd8Shg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Newport Beach","date","2025-01-25T00:00:00Z","article","The Newport Beach City Planning Commission on Jan. 23 approved a proposal to convert the existing three‑story Newport Irvine Center at 3300 Irvine Avenue into medical office space, add a three‑story parking structure with a solar canopy and carry out exterior and landscape improvements.

The project, described to commissioners by assistant planner Daniel Copshever, would convert the building to allow “100% medical tenants,” add a 202‑space, three‑story parking garage, create a new atrium and raise parapets on the existing building to 41 feet, 6 inches, with an atrium element at 45 feet. Staff told the commission the project would require a major site development review for the height increase, a staff approval to waive a portion of the parking requirement and a traffic study because of projected trip increases. Copshever said the city’s traffic engineer reviewed a traffic impact analysis and found no study intersections that would require mitigation.

Why it matters: The project changes an existing office campus in a mixed‑use corridor and relies on a parking waiver and project‑level design findings to proceed. The applicant’s plan also includes a solar canopy on the new garage and landscaping along Orchard Drive intended to buffer nearby properties.

Details and vote: Staff reported the municipal code would require 392 parking spaces under standard code counts; the applicant is proposing 331 spaces. The project team retained RK Engineering; an independent parking study cited by staff estimated a need of 309 spaces for comparable medical office uses and recommended a parking management plan. Staff added a condition requiring the applicant to implement the parking management plan’s recommendations. The staff report corrects typographical errors in the draft resolution, updates prior use‑permit dates and removes a condition related to a balcony that is no longer in the design. Staff recommended the commission find the proposal exempt from CEQA as an infill project and adopt the resolution recommending approval.

Applicant Jason Crotz, managing partner of Real Estate Development Associates, told the commission his firm supports staff’s recommended conditions. “We have reviewed the conditions of approval and are in agreement with all of them and support the recommendation of staff,” Crotz said.

Commission discussion was brief. One commissioner announced a prior meeting with the applicant or applicant’s consultant as required under the city’s ex parte reporting procedures. Another commissioner said the project appears “relatively straightforward” and that the parking variance is “warranted” given mechanical room area, then moved to approve the project. A second commissioner stated they were satisfied with the parking analysis and seconded the motion. The commission’s motion carried unanimously.

Next steps: With the Planning Commission approval, the item moves forward subject to the conditions in the adopted resolution. The staff‑required parking management measures are set as conditions of approval; the project team will be required to implement them as a post‑approval condition.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Newport Beach Planning Commission Meeting January 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Newport Beach City Planning Commission on Jan. 23 approved a proposal to convert the existing three‑story Newport Irvine Center at 3300 Irvine Avenue into medical office space, add a three‑story parking structure with a solar canopy and carry out exterior and landscape improvements.","taxTitle","Newport Beach City, Orange County, California","taxId",4307,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6324105,"Planning commission recommends Council approve housing‑overlay amendments and higher heights in Newport Center",1420,1949000,3369000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2339711-d1402a5453e0247ed5b2da1310a77bfb&start=1949&end=3369","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2339711-d1402a5453e0247ed5b2da1310a77bfb/thumbnail_1949000.jpg","/articles/6324105/Newport-Beach-City/Orange-County/California/Planning-commission-recommends-Council-approve-housingoverlay-amendments-and-higher-heights-in-Newport-Center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6324105-80bef04a06202008fefb97a7be226915/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199063&Signature=KZ53D2NoHYPXhkwwy2r8Vfp~kS196UGm8ZiOqcXjOG5zQl~0XcfmpjysnJbu31yqIuKrktYV1F9cE5IkCETz7wO9D-PV~SLHIO~IABy6C1QsIy7LBCD6g0Qa4duqoq3QwgUUCRZClAOI30-oZNawtU6HlpAl6z3Bfg~XZ14D~uXelLSL0MzN4YKyF17OwP4NPHLRJmFYVchgSSt6KO6JzjzSkqiEjxEipWbtgJg2ONdehS1mNksE7oXb3Tc2Gkd1A18jEZl2CC~ao36o~ar0S2zQS0HWLV5HYArjkx-oSCT6UjRxN7tt79kEJ5F0Pp7Ov6i5jfTNhxDbkwpvZqiE5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Newport Beach City Planning Commission on Jan. 23 voted to recommend City Council approve amendments to the Housing Opportunities Overlay (HO) zoning and related coastal‑zone adjustments that would allocate units to city‑owned parcels and raise allowable building heights in parts of Newport Center to facilitate housing development.

Planning manager Ben Zadeba told commissioners that the city’s certified housing element identifies policy actions requiring rezoning and that the current staff proposal would, among other changes, allocate 179 dwelling units to a city property at 1201 Dove Street in HO‑1 (airport area) and allocate 199 units to the police and fire station property on Santa Barbara Drive in HO‑4 (Newport Center). Staff described proposed height increases in Newport Center as intended to align with the original master plan vision for a stepped downtown and to make denser housing projects more financially viable.

Why it matters: The overlay amendments are part of the city’s strategy to meet State RHNA (Regional Housing Needs Allocation) requirements and implement the certified housing element. The changes could enable denser housing projects in Newport Center and other overlay areas by increasing allowable height and density on targeted sites.

CEQA and process: Staff said the City Council in July 2024 certified a program environmental impact report (program EIR) for housing‑element implementation and that Kimberly Horan Associates prepared a consistency analysis finding no additional CEQA review is required under State CEQA Guidelines section 15162 for the proposed height adjustments. Staff recommended the Planning Commission find CEQA had been adequately addressed by the program EIR and forward the proposed amendments to City Council. Staff also noted that any projects under the overlay would generally still require site development review, which includes analysis of public viewpoints.

Public comment and concerns: Several speakers addressed noticing, equity and view impacts. Longtime local commenter Jim Mosier said the overlay process is “unfair and inequitable” because it allows by‑right housing on selected properties and, he argued, could favor market‑rate development over the affordable units the city must produce. Mosier also raised concerns about noticing, saying many residents do not receive the Daily Pilot and that the advertised notice’s reach is limited.

Debbie Stevens, representing the Harborview Hills Community Association, thanked staff for preserving the Newport Center site plane protections that limit building bulk and protect public views along McArthur Boulevard. Tom Nicholson, a member of St. Michael’s Church’s board, asked that the church site (Site 147) be included in the proposed height adjustments; his written letter asked for a 55‑foot allowance. Staff also noted a separate written request for a 48‑foot height allowance at an AT&T (PacBell) switching facility; commissioners voted to include those two additional requests in the recommendation to City Council.

Commission discussion and outcome: Commissioners discussed the origin of the Newport Center site‑plane protections (a combination of ordinances dating to the 1970s) and emphasized that staff was not proposing changes to the site‑plane rules. Commissioners also discussed market realities that make increased height necessary for some projects to “pencil,” and several commissioners expressed support for forwarding the amendments and the two additional sites to City Council. One commissioner moved to recommend City Council approval, with the two additional privately requested sites (AT&T/PacBell and St. Michael’s) included; another commissioner seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Next steps and timeline: If the commission’s recommendation moves forward, staff said the amendments will go to the Airport Land Use Commission for a consistency determination in February and then to City Council in March, assuming ALUC concurrence. Projects proposed later under the overlay will still require project‑level review for view impacts, site design and other municipal code findings.","The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend City Council adopt housing opportunities overlay amendments that allocate units to specified city properties, raise allowable heights in parts of Newport Center to support housing projects, and forward two additional private requests for higher height limits to council after CEQA review","actionData","errors"]

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Planning commissioners approve conversion of Newport Irvine Center to medical offices with new parking structure

Planning commission recommends Council approve housing‑overlay amendments and higher heights in Newport Center